Yann Ehrlacher and Thed Björk claimed one win each in the FIA TCR World Tour race weekend in Uruguay, further extending the team championship lead for Lynk & Co Cyan Racing.
Thed Björk crowned a strong weekend with a solid victory in the second race from sixth on the grid after a podium in Race 1.
The Swede leaves Uruguay as the best placed Lynk & Co Cyan Racing driver in the drivers’ championship in third place, 29 points from leading driver Norbert Michelisz.
“The second race was crazy! A big thanks for the team work from Santi and that enabled me to fight for the win. I took everything I had from the tyres and the car and just went for it. Really good points for the championship and a great feeling ahead of the final two race weekends,” said Thed Björk.
The first race saw two-time touring car world champion Yann Ehrlacher starting from pole and controlled the race from lights to flag, despite two safety car interruptions.
The Frenchman unfortunately suffered a technical issue in the second race which saw him drop to the back of the field.
“I was very happy with a win from pole in the first race and to stand on the podium together with Thed. I got a good start and then it was not easy with all the safety car interruptions. But the car was strong. Unfortunately I had a small technical issue in the second race which made it impossible to score points. It seems luck is struggling to find me and it was a shame to end the weekend like this,” said Yann Ehrlacher.
Santiago Urrutia was right in the thick of the action in both races, finishing seventh in the first race and on the podium in the second race. The Uruguayan driver was however later disqualified from Race 2 due to a miscommunication regarding the application of an engine function
“It’s a special feeling to finish the weekend on the podium together with Thed. Big thanks to the team, everyone back home and to all fans here this weekend, the atmosphere was amazing. The disqualification was unfortunate, but due to a genuine miscommunication and that’s racing sometimes. We will come back strong in the next race at Zhuzhou,” said Santiago Urrutia.
Ma Qing Hua had a tough weekend, having fought his way from 15th on the grid to the top five in the first race before a damaged suspension saw him dropping back outside of the points.
The Chinese driver then lined up in pole position for the second race, only for a technical issue forcing him to start last. Ma Qing Hua then once again fought his way up to finish eighth from the back of the grid.
“I was quite disappointed, the issue happened at the absolute worst moment. I tried my best to fight back and got up into the points from the back of the grid, managing to score some points for the team. Racing and life is like this sometimes. We will now reload for my home race in China which I’m really looking forward to,” said Ma Qing Hua.
Lynk & Co Cyan Racing keeps its team championship lead, 33 points ahead of BRC Hyundai, as the championship heads into a late summer break - resuming at Zhuzhou in China on October 18-20.
Further information about the KUMHO FIA TCR World Tour.
KUMHO FIA TCR World Tour – Race of Uruguay
Autódromo Victor Borrat Fabini, El Pinar
Results and championship points.
2024 KUMHO FIA TCR World Tour calendar
19-21 April – Vallelunga – Italy
03-04 May – Marrakech – Morocco
07-08 June – Mid-Ohio – USA
20-21 July – Interlagos – Brazil
02-04 August – El Pinar – Uruguay
19-20 October – Zhuzhou – China
14-17 November – Guia Circuit – Macau
Ends.
Media contact information
Johan Meissner
PR Manager
Cyan Racing
+46(0)70 241 3234
johan.meissner@cyanracing.com
About Cyan Racing
Cyan Racing was founded in 1996 and was formerly named Polestar until Volvo Cars acquired the performance section and trademark in 2015. Cyan Racing is privately owned and operated. The team has claimed nine touring car World Titles, most recently the 2023 TCR World Tour teams' title with Lynk & Co – and participated in the development of the Polestar performance models of the Volvo S60 and V60 in the years 2013 to 2015, including the concept models Volvo C30 and S60 Polestar Concept Prototype. The company launched the Volvo P1800 Cyan in 2020, Cyan Racing’s interpretation of the iconic Volvo sports car from the sixties.
About Lynk & Co
Lynk & Co was created to provide mobility solutions for the connected generation. We do make really, really good cars (the kind that have all the features you want without you having to ask for them), but we also offer a new way of using those cars. Our membership-based approach makes it simple to get on the go. Members can access a car on a flexible, month-to-month basis and share with friends, family, and the Lynk & Co community.
About Geely Group Motorsport
Geely Group Motorsport is a brand neutral entity based within Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. It was founded in 2018 to provide strategic and tactical expertise to serve the best motorsport sporting and commercial interests for the auto brands in the group. One of its tactical assignments include the development and management of the Lynk & Co TCR and customer racing programmes.